Game On: Samsung Tackles Sideline Drama with Pocket-sized Video Referee
- The Marketer
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
In the ‘Ultra Field Test’, Australian football legend Archie Thompson uses Samsung’s Galaxy S26 to help settle sideline dramas in grassroots sports
In a big year for football, Samsung Electronics Australia teamed up with Australian football legend Archie Thompson to explore how Samsung’s latest flagship phone, Galaxy S26 Ultra, can inspire Australians on and off the field with its cutting-edge camera technology.
Featuring local football club, Sutherland Sharks FC, Samsung’s ‘Ultra Field Test’, shows how everyday Australians have the opportunity to help reduce drama on and off the field, using Galaxy S26 Ultra as a pocked-sized video assistant referee (VAR).
With almost 3 million children [1] participating in organised sport each year, sideline opinions and parents filming the action on their phone have become part of the grassroots sporting experience. With so many eyes on every call, it’s no surprise that decisions can spark debate. In fact, recent research commissioned by Samsung found that 2 in 3 Aussie sports fans (66%)[2] have argued with friends or family over refereeing decisions, while 41%[3] have even witnessed arguments between parents. However, while most (69%)[4] believe that technology can improve refereeing decisions, tools like VAR often remain out of reach at community-level football.
Capturing all the action using Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra, the ‘Ultra Field Test’ aimed to help observers make close calls with its powerful zoom and slow-motion video playback capabilities. Spectators can both capture, and also review key moments in real time, helping to bring clarity to key decisions, reduce contested calls and ease pressure on and off the field.
Sutherland Sharks FC players look at the action replay on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Drawing on his experience at the professional level, Archie Thompson, said the test highlights how introducing mobile technology can help support sporting codes at grassroots levels.
“When VAR was first introduced about a decade ago, I had my doubts about how it could impact the flow of the game. At the professional level, whether it was playing for Australia or in the national league, there were always multiple cameras and officials to help make the right call.
But it's completely different at grassroots level. Refs have to make calls without the help of VAR tech – with players, coaches and parents all watching – that's where the tension can build quickly. What stood out to me is how something as simple as instant slow-motion replay helped diffuse that pressure – it gave the refs more confidence and kept everyone focused on what actually mattered – the game!”
Nathan Rigger, Head of Product, Mobile eXperience at Samsung Electronics Australia said the test highlighted how Samsung’s superior mobile and camera technology can be used to meet the everyday interests of Australians.
“For many parents, supporting their kids at Saturday sports is about being present in the moment and capturing key memories. Whether it's a stunning goal or a match-winning save, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is designed to capture these moments perfectly. With features like Space Zoom, Audio Eraser, and Horizontal Lock, you can relive those memories over and over again.”
Drawing on his own experience on the sideline, Thompson said parents can benefit from the features on the Galaxy S26 Ultra to capture match day memories. Super Steady[5] with horizontal lock can keep fast-paced action smooth, while features such as Audio Eraser[6] removes unwanted background noise when reviewing match footage, while the first-of-its-kind Privacy Display[7] feature ensures parents and fans' screens are kept discreet even when used in a large crowd.
While sideline debates may never fully disappear, the ‘Ultra Field Test’ shows how technology in your pocket plays a role in supporting local community sports and helping to keep sideline drama at bay.
